"Although Stoker divides Dracula into chapters rather
than into parts, the novel is easier to understand in terms of its four distinct
parts, or sections. The first of these parts relates Jonathan Harker's
trip to Dracula's castle, when an ordinary business trip becomes a terrifying
encounter with four powerful supernatural creatures. In the second part,
Dracula comes to England, where he seduces and destroys an innocent English
girl, Lucy Westenra. This part, which is also a kind of medical mystery
in which two physicians attempt to understand what is happening to their patient,
ends with Lucy being destroyed by Dr. Van Helsing and three young men who
had proposed marriage to her. The third section brings together a number
of characters to battle Dracula and includes the seduction of Mina Harker and
the decision to track Dracula to his castle. The fourth section includes
the chase, in which this unified group tracks Dracula to his castle and finally
destroys him." Source: Carol A. Senf. Dracula: Between
Tradition and Modernism. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1998: 19-20.
BIOGRAPHY
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) studied at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
He earned a degree in science in 1868 and a master's degree in
mathematics in 1872. Stoker began work as a civil servant at Dublin Castle in
1868. He also worked as an unpaid drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail,
and later as a business manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Stoker's first book,
The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, was published in 1879.
His short story collection, Under the Sunset, was published in 1882.
In 1892, Stoker began writing Dracula. A childhood illness, with hysteria-like symptoms, may have led him to imagine the predicament he would
later create for his vampire victims.
TOPICS
Role of women, science and technology, vampirism and the Dracula Legend, vampires and Victorians, parallels between Stoker's life and the victims' lives, legend, myth, suspense, mystery, quest, romance vs. seduction, destroying Dracula
JOURNAL ARTICLES (Online Access)
Librarian Talk about Finding Journal and Newspaper Articles!
Electronic databases are purchased by the libraries for your research use. Use them to find articles in newspapers and journals, letters, reference books, illustrations, photographs and more. Home access to article databases is available with your updated library card barcode. If you need assistance finding an article contact the Reference Librarians and they will see that you get the article. They will need full bibliographic information - and your name and address. Send your phone number as well, so they can contact you if necessary.
Use your library card to login to these online journal databases.
Literature
Resource Center Read full-text articles from reference books and selected literature journals. Select 'Advanced Search' and limit the search to "critical essay."
MLA National International Bibliography The most comprehensive index to literary criticism. Most articles are not available online, but they may be available through another database. Use the "Check LinkSource" option to find the complete article. You may need to obtain them through interlibrary loan.
Proquest An extensive list of scholarly journal and magazine articles. Limit to "Scholarly journals, including peer reviewed" to find only scholarly journals.
JSTOR Print or save full-text articles from high quality scholarly journals, generally from older issues. Use the Advanced Search page for the most productive searches.
Project Muse This database contains only scholarly, full-text articles from selected journals, including more recent issues. Use the Advanced Search page for the most effective searches.
Academic Search Complete This large collection of journal and magazine articles contains many literary journals. Limit to "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals" to locate only scholarly journals.
BOOKS
Librarian Talk . . . About Books!
Books offer helpful information about time periods, authors and the literary works. Use them to help begin your review of literature on Dracula.
Apply
online for a library card.
Use your card to 1) Place a Hold on a book and have it sent to the library closest to you 2) Access journal and reference databases from home, and 3) Access Online Book Database
(NetLibrary).
Online books (database paid for by our libraries) are available at
NetLibrary. Use your library card to log in. Create a free account to save favorite titles or your own notes on the books you read.
See 'Supplement III' for a critical essay about Stoker's life and literary
career.
Dictionary of Literary Biography [REFPN41.D5]
Volumes 36, 70 and 178 contain essays about Stoker and Dracula.
Twentieth Century Literary Criticism [REFPN771.G27]
Volume 8 contains excerpts from numerous critical essays about Dracula.
World Literature Criticism [REFPN523.W67]
Volume 6 contains excerpts form critical essays about Dracula.
Please check at the Circulation Desk in the library
for books which your instructor may have placed on reserve.
INTERNET
Librarian Talk about the Internet!
The internet can be a wonderful source of original documents. Browse the sites we have suggested below. Remember, you do want to find reputable sites. Look at:
Accuracy - The information should be researched and show proof of that research.
Source - Look at the domain: .edu .gov .org .net are valid research sources. Your company's website is also a valuable resource.
Authority - What are the author's credentials? (Don't quote from another college freshman's paper.)
Coverage - Does the page have the information you need for your research?
Objectivity - If a work is biased, use it - just make sure your professor knows YOU know. Offer both sides of issues, where applicable.
Dracula's Home Page | http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/ |
Elizabeth Miller is an English professor (and author) at Memorial University
of Newfoundland, Canada. Check this site for information about Dracula.
Support for a successful paper is more than finding the right resources. Putting it all together takes time and effort. Sometimes it takes additional help from the librarians or tutors. Please consider the following resources if you need additional help. Remember, the expert on the assignment is your professor; use the eCollege VISTA in-class email to contact her.
Bram Stoker (1847-1912) studied at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland.
He earned a degree in science in 1868 and a master's degree in
mathematics in 1872. Stoker began work as a civil servant at Dublin Castle in
1868. He also worked as an unpaid drama critic for the Dublin Evening Mail,
and later as a business manager of the Lyceum Theatre. Stoker's first book,
The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland, was published in 1879.
His short story collection, Under the Sunset, was published in 1882.
In 1892, Stoker began writing Dracula. A childhood illness, with hysteria-like symptoms, may have led him to imagine the predicament he would
later create for his vampire victims.
